My Genealogy Hound

William K. Sims is a dealer in drugs and medicines at Brinkley, Ark., and has been established in business at this point since February, 1883, his stock of goods amounting to about $2,500. He was born near Helena, Ark., in 1860, and is a son of Dr. William K. and Mary (Scaife) Sims, who were born, reared and married in the ‘‘Palmetto State,’’ and there made their home until some years prior to the late Civil War, when they came west and settled in Phillips County, Ark. About the time of the opening of hostilities Mr. Sims died, and his family returned to South Carolina, but liking the West best, and thinking the prospects for becoming rich much better here than at their old home, they returned to Arkansas in 1868. From that time until 1883 they made their home in Phillips County, then came to Brinkley where the mother’s demise occurred on November 9, 1885, she having been an earnest member of the Baptist Church for many years, as was her husband. The latter was a successful physician for many years, a graduate of his profession, and was a son of William Sims, who was a Virginian, but died in South Carolina, a well-to-do farmer. The maternal grandfather, Vida Scaipe, was of Welsh descent, and is supposed to have been born in South Carolina, but came to Phillips County, Ark., in 1868. William K. Sims is the youngest of three children born to his parents, and spent his youth in tilling the soil and acquiring a common-school education. He began for himself at the age of fourteen years as a farm hand, continuing until he was about twenty-three years old, in the meantime clerking in Helena part of the time, and previous to coming to Brinkley he clerked in a drug store in Trenton, Ark., for one year. Since establishing himself in business at Brinkley, he has become one of the leading druggists of the town, and by his thorough knowledge of drugs, his accuracy, intelligence and honesty, he has established a large and lucrative trade. From October, 1885, to October, 1889, he was postmaster of the town, being appointed to the position by President Cleveland. Mr. Sims is a Democrat, and is quite well-to-do for a young man, being the owner of an excellent business lot on Main Street.